A constellation of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs).

Inherited retinal diseases (also called inherited retinal dystrophies, or IRDs) are a group of rare eye disorders caused by an inherited gene mutation and can result in vision loss or blindness.1

Some people with inherited retinal diseases, for instance those with retinitis pigmentosa (RP) or choroideremia (CHM), experience a gradual loss of vision, eventually leading to complete blindness.1-3 Others, with conditions like Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), may be born with or experience vision loss in infancy or early childhood.4

Cone-Rod Dystrophy

Cone-rod dystrophy begins in childhood and differs from other IRDs by the order in which parts of the eye experience deterioration—cone photoreceptors first, followed by rod photoreceptors. This leads to an associated switch in the onset of symptoms. Patients initially lose color vision and central vision, followed by progressive loss of peripheral vision.5

Unlike juvenile macular degeneration, age-related macular degeneration is not caused by a mutation in a single gene, but may be due to genetics, environmental factors, or lifestyle choices (such as smoking).6 There are a number of good resources for anyone living with AMD/ARMD, including the websites for the Foundation Fighting Blindness (FFB) and the American Macular Degeneration Foundation.

aSharedVision is sponsored by Spark Therapeutics, Inc., a leader in the field of gene therapy research. Here, the IRD community can stay informed about retinal gene therapy research, and discover the crucial nature of genetic testing.

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Disclaimer: Nothing on aSharedVision.com should be construed as medical advice or replace medical advice, medical visits, or recommendations from a health care professional. Patients should always consult with a doctor or other health care professional for medical advice.